Philadelphia City Council held a public budget hearing April 29 at Lincoln High School. Photo/Shannon McDonald

With the exception of one outburst from the audience early on about Philadelphia City Council members not listening closely enough to public testimony, Monday night’s city budget hearing at Lincoln High School was otherwise calm. Raised voices were saved mostly for support for those pleading with Council for better services and more funding.

The meeting, one of a handful around the city designed to bring public budget testimony to those who can’t make it to Council chambers on a weekday afternoon, was led by Council President Darrell Clarke, D-5th. He was joined by Republican Councilmen at-large Denny O’Brien and David Oh, Councilmen Bobby Henon, D-6th; and Mark Squilla, D-1st; and Councilwoman Cindy Bass, D-8th. All but Clarke are first-term council members. continue reading »

Just six Philadelphia City Council members attended the 2012 budget hearing in the Northeast. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Philadelphia City Council members will be in the Northeast Monday to give community members a chance to express budget concerns.

The hearing is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lincoln High School. Those who sign up to testify at the hearing can weigh in on things like quality of life issue, property taxes, education, union contracts and more. continue reading »

NewsWorks Image/Todd Vachon

Northeast Philadelphia has five public high schools — Fels, Frankford, Lincoln, Northeast and Washington — but many students choose charter or magnet schools instead when it comes time to select non-private education.

A new map from our partners at NewsWorks outlines who in the catchment area of those five neighborhood schools actually attends them, and compares those numbers with citywide stats and charter and magnet attendance. continue reading »

Flickr Photo/Gordon Institute of TAFE

When it comes to science, technology, engineering and math fields, the American education system is playing catch up. A new program trying to help Philadelphia high schoolers compete in these areas kicks off next month.

Twenty-five juniors from Lincoln and Roxborough high schools will get hands-on training at Thomas Jefferson University — test driving a career in biotechnology for more than six months.

“They’re going to see all the opportunities — all the jobs — that are available with this kind of knowledge,” said Shirley Greening, chair of the bioscience technologies department at Jefferson. continue reading »

Two Northeast high schools have been removed from the “persistently dangerous” list. School District of Philadelphia officials announced today that six schools remain on the list – down from 10 last year.

Fels High School and Northeast High School have both been removed from the list. continue reading »

Meetings will be held this month at Northeast and Lincoln high schools to review the criteria for the new superintendent of the Philadelphia School District. Image/Google Maps

Two meetings have been scheduled in the Northeast this month to discuss the search for the new superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia.

Former superintendent Arlene Ackerman was bought out last year following months of internal conflict and accusations, and her second-in-command, Leroy Nunnery, was named interim superintendent. continue reading »

The School District of Philadelphia recommends grade reconfigurations for Stearne School in Frankford and Lawton School in Wissinoming.

The School District of Philadelphia announced at Wednesday School Reform Commission meeting the recommended closure of nine city schools and reconfigurations to 17 others.

None of those closures are meant for Northeast schools, but two are part of the grade reconfigurations outlined in the district’s facilities master plan. Though specific plans for the schools haven’t been made clear, Henry W. Lawton School in Wissinoming and Allen M. Stearne School in Frankford both need reconfigurations, according to the district. continue reading »

The Mayfair Memorial Playground site in February 2010, not long after rebuilding efforts were renewed. Photo by Stephen Zook for NEastPhilly/Philadelphia Neighborhoods.

A fundraising event a couple years in the making will culminate later this month when Mayfair residents come together to rebuild Mayfair Memorial Playground.

After teaming up with KaBOOM!, getting business sponsorships and working with the School District of Philadelphia to secure the sight, the Mayfair Civic Association is now looking for volunteers to help with the build. continue reading »

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released its annual list of Persistently Dangerous Schools.

While the School District of Philadelphia cut its number of dangerous schools by almost half in the last year, 10 high schools remain on the list. And four of them are in the Northeast.

Fels, Frankford, Lincoln and Northeast high schools all meet the state qualifications for the list, based on the variety and number of violent incidents among students during the school year. These four were on the 2011-2012 list, and all made the list in 2009-2010. Harding Middle School also made the 2009-10 list, but has since dropped off.

An estimated 750 people attended a meeting at Lincoln High School last Tuesday to get information about the methadone clinic proposed for the 7900-block of Frankford Ave.

As promised at last week’s meeting to discuss the proposed methadone clinic in Holmesburg, sign-ups have begun for the bus that will take residents to the Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing to protest the clinic.

Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and State Rep. Mike McGeehan released a flier yesterday, encouraging interested parties to register for a spot on the bus. continue reading »